Slugger O'Toole

Latest comments from TwilightoftheProds (see all)

TwilightoftheProds has commented 70 times (3 in the last month).

1. Comment on “I do apologise for anyone who misunderstood the way I was using the metaphor…”
   on 16 May 2012 at 9:06 pm

   I realise that with the current golfing success its an important part of the local ‘feel good’ factor – or at least marketed as such. So it was impolitic of them.

   But come on. Norn Iron football supporters, GAA clubs and fans, ‘Gers and Bhoys, regularly get maligned on this forum and elsewhere as being ‘carriers’ of sectarianism- what makes golfing representatives so superior and so sensitive at the mildest use of their sport as a metaphor for hidden sectarianism.

   They need to stop being so precious for fear of disappearing up their own eighteenth. One can protest too much.

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2. Comment on A flexible library service for the 21st century?
   on 8 May 2012 at 11:43 pm

   I’m pretty sure that’s close to how all the libraries in NI work anyway, especially after the merger. The whole library service acts as a functioning unit (or is supposed too, its been a year since I ordered books from around the pravince, but they did come). It was the case within the old board systems too.

   Apart from the spreadsheet check to see the shelves aren’t ‘overfilled’…That guys got too much time on his hands. I can make a saving right there.

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3. Comment on Are public libraries under-appreciated and under-used?
   on 8 May 2012 at 12:23 am

   I’ll have to diasappoint Articles….whilst our previous foray was about the ‘labour intensive’ versus ‘sure its just books on shelves’ nature of running a library- in actual fact we are arguing whether zeppelin pilots or penny farthing mechanics are skilled or unskilled. Kindle,tablets and smartphones are doggedly killing off the library as a community repository of text and information…and that is the foremost reason for a public library. The 30% who don’t go near books are a real concern, perhaps some are not being given the chance to cultivate reading as kids…but some other means of attracting readership needs to be undertaken.

   A lot of libraries will survive as places where books as artefacts can be read and borrowed….and they are nice tactile, artefacts. But as real places for study, research, browsing for potboilers….hmmmm. Kids books will survive a while yet.

   In a few years we’ll be picking up something like a kindle, but a bit better for about £20. Your library will be in a the palm of your hand and backed up on a cloud. Look at mp3 players. Well be using vouchers for schools to flood primaries with them. Libraries will last longer than the record/cd store, but they will be drastically cut….and of course wait’ll the pirates move into the download market. That’ll be publishers effed before even the libraries.

   In short ten years on I don’t know how many public libraries there will be or what exactly they will be. They’ll probably look like some sort of community drop in centre with free wifi. Cue sponsorship from Starbucks….jeezus.

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4. Comment on Is it time for unionists to make peace with Ireland’s Patriot Dead?
   on 6 April 2012 at 7:51 pm

   Has there still been no reply to DR’s appropriate question of who are the patriot dead?

   Thats important. If a Belfast unionist were to leave a floral tribute- should it be done at the Co. Antrim memorial, The Provisional plot, socialist republican plot?

   If a unionist is to wear an easter lily is it bad form to have one that sticks on or pins on?

   If Republicans have real difficulties with legitimacy and political genealogy that needs to be aired, how can Unionists respond appropriately if Republicans don’t engage – if we don’t know what it is we are commemorating in time, how can we commemorate it?

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5. Comment on Mike Nesbitt takes 81% of UUP vote
   on 31 March 2012 at 2:34 pm

   The scale of Nesbitt’s victory has utterly blind sided me.

   If the vast bulk of the party think that’s the way to go….jesus. They are cowering ineffectually under the executive table, not sitting as equals at it.

   So fair play to Nesbitt for being canny enough to read the mood of the party so well…..but this is shoal of jellyfish stuff. And in the centenary of the Covenant. Tsk.

   The UUP needs space to manouvre and create a distinct profile for themselves. And time is not on the UUP’s side here.

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6. Comment on And into the last bend of the UUP leadership race: Who will win?
   on 30 March 2012 at 10:24 pm

   McAllister to win by a narrow enough amount -maybe tops 55% of the unspoiled votes.

   The grassroots will vote for the chance to land blows on the executive and establish some sort of brand recognition. The calculation might be McAllister to lead into opposition, and from there Nesbitt to get them on TV….

   As long as they don’t severely fall out post election…and as long the UUP assembly team can hit with a striking force greater than a damp kleenex.

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7. Comment on Tom Elliott hands the poisoned chalice on
   on 12 March 2012 at 6:33 pm

   A long but very measured and analytical post. If people skimmed it,it’s worth reading it all.

   There are problems of discipline and snobbery within the UUP. High handed entitlement produced the ‘decent people vote ulster unionist’ slogan. A pose of civic unionism produced ‘simply british’.

   IThe UUP faces two real problems – a hollowing out of its vote in greater Belfast-which could be ameliorated if not reversed by sleeves up constituency work.

   But much more importantly, it lacks any identifiable purpose now. It needs to find out what its for and sell that to the electorate and the media. The DUP points out that it is disciplined and unified, has a ‘moving NI forward’ narrative that undercuts appeals to civic unionism, but can also point to a history of communal stridency to settle traditionalist nerves. In the last ditch, they can also play the prods together card – ‘only a vote for the DUP can prevent a Sin Fein First Minister’.

   The UUP needs to find some space on the political scene – it’s head is above water because of residual distaste from people who remember the tub thumping and the supernaturalism of the old paisleyism. That won’t last for much longer.

   PS ‘Gnomes’- not bad. I can’t think of anything better to describe the brotherhood of the leylandii.

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8. Comment on “We cannot impose; this has to come from within Northern Ireland.”
   on 11 March 2012 at 5:11 pm

   Adam’s real drive in talking this referendum up is just to cover how politically weak republican strategy on separation from the UK looks – in comparison to the political acumen of the SNP.

   SNP – 1 change of achieving independence- significant

   2 Death toll and legacy of political violence in achieving aim-zero

   Irish Republicanism – 1 chance of achieving unity – low for political and economic reasons in this generation
   2 Death toll and legacy of political violence- errrrrr

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9. Comment on Don’t denude Stormont of unionist monuments. Let’s have nationalist ones too. What might they be?
   on 16 February 2012 at 8:04 pm

   Oooh I like the idea of mary anne mccracken. Maybe her brother too?

   FJH is entirely right about the choice of nationalist icons- its for nationalists to decide what they are proud of and want to see represented.

   and that might be nothing. Symbols are there to legitimise an institution as well as challenge the status quo. They can even serve to close down thought.

   Bobby Sands might drive unionists to apoplexy….but figuratively planting him in the grounds of a partitionist devolved assembly within the UK would probably cause Republicans to self combust.

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10. Comment on Has McGuinness Breached the Good Friday Agreement?
    on 30 January 2012 at 7:47 pm

    iluvni

    They could easily get round that by asking ‘do you want to be part of a state that is breaking up or one that is going to be in penury for decades?’

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